Tailwinds for England-to-Virginia travelers taking off?

The Norfolk and Kent, England, airports propose trying out new direct flights during Jamestown 2007.

A plan for new direct flights from this part of Virginia to Kent, England, could get the go-ahead by the end of this month.For several months, a London-based consulting firm has been conducting a feasibility study on the flights on behalf of two clients, Kent County Council in England and the Norfolk Airport Authority.

"If both parties say 'Yes' (to the plan), there will be a series of interesting announcements in the next few weeks," said Tony Freudmann, chairman of the consulting firm, FT International Ltd.

The flights would take place at least once weekly from May 2007 to October 2007

coinciding with the peak of 400th anniversary events for the Jamestown settlement. The flights could become permanent afterward, if there's enough demand.

The Kent-Norfolk route would mean travelers in this region could fly to Europe directly without passing through Washington Dulles International Airport or another major hub. Currently, the airports in Norfolk, Newport News and Richmond do not offer regular, direct transatlantic service.

An agreement between Virginia and Kent's government helped spur the feasibility study on the flights. It calls for more commercial, cultural and tourism ties during the Jamestown 2007 commemoration and in the long term. Historical ties already exist between the Old Dominion and Kent, the place where Pocahontas is buried and where a number of Jamestown settlers were born.

Travelers likely would pay about $500 for coach seats or about $1,200 for business class seats. The 3,800-mile flight from Norfolk to Kent International Airport -- which is about 60 miles east of London and was once known as Manston airbase -- takes about 81/2 hours. Monarch Airlines, which bills itself as the United Kingdom's largest independent charter airline, is the most likely carrier for the route.

Earlier in the feasibility study process, Richmond International Airport was under consideration as the new route's Virginia terminus. Norfolk has become the preferred option because its customer base is more likely to take advantage of the new flights, Freudmann said. Richmond residents already can drive to Dulles and choose from a number of flights to Europe, the consultant said.

The feasibility study, once slated to be complete in November, is taking longer than expected. Freudmann said that's just because of the amount of work involved, such as extensive discussions with tour operators, travel agents and government officials on both sides of the Atlantic.

But now it's getting to be time to make a decision on the plan, according to Ken Scott, executive director of the Norfolk Airport Authority. There needs to be sufficient time for the route to be promoted to Brits and Virginians, he said.

Scott also said the airport authority is "very enthusiastic" about the plan for direct flights to Kent. Offering the flights could serve as an important step in Norfolk International Airport's effort to become a true international airport, he said. As part of that effort, and in a move that's not directly related to the Kent flights, the airport is planning to roughly double its space for customs and immigration.

The Norfolk Airport Authority Board of Commissioners hopes to vote on the Kent flights plan at its March 23 meeting, Scott said. But the plan also must be approved by Kent County Council, which launched the ongoing feasibility study. The Norfolk airport became a partner in the study in December and is paying the consultants about $45,000. *

THE PLANE FACTS

If the Norfolk-Kent flights become a reality, Airbus 330s operated by Monarch Airlines likely will serve that route.

While smaller than Boeing 747s, which typically carry more than 400 passengers, these Airbus planes require 9,000-foot runways, so the Newport News airport's 8,000-foot runway put it out of consideration.

531cruising speed, in miles per hour

374approximate number of passengers on an A330, with 323 coach seats and 51 premium seats